Auxiliary dependents are not given ID cards. On the link you provided, it said aux members can bring their dependents to the commissary and exchange, but they are not permitted to make purchases. This is because they don't possess an ID card.

You can meet the standard, or you can set the standard. It's your choice.

VicNaz1Basic MemberPosts:174

04 Apr 2013 12:35 PM

The easiest way to fix this situation is to have your wife/husband/etc. join the Aux. It took a lot of explaining and several long discussions but I got my wife to join and now things work better. If I'm on duty augmenting the active duty at a Coast Guard station she can bring me fresh clothes or come on base to shop (within the limits of regulations) and there's no problem. She now also has an official Federal Government ID that is appropriate identification to get in to other government buildings. She can now come visit me at my 'day' job at the FAA with her Aux. ID and not need an escort. It's only a small amount of extra money each year and the flotilla benefits. Also, because we live in a state that gives a state income tax deduction for Aux. we'll get 2 deductions (within the limits of the regulations) and I can even get CG Aux. license tags for her car.

Incidentally, this is also a way to fix an issue with dependents who 'age out'. I got into a discussion with a lady who was working at the exchange at a CG facility in the Tidewater, VA area and she seemed genuinely upset that Aux. get to shop at the Exchange while her son (who was turning 21 or 18 or whatever) was going to loose his dependent status and not be able to shop or come on base. She said her husband was retiring as a Senior Chief and had been in for twenty-something years and it was completely unfair that her son would not be able to continue to shop. At this point I asked her if she'd considered getting her son into the Aux. so he could keep his privileges (except alcohol and tobacco)? She had not.

This would work for anyone in any branch of the service. There may be lots of regulations to chase down about where Aux. can and cannot go on base but an Aux. ID is a non-military ID (although it does bear some interesting Geneva Convention status) which does identify the Aux. member as one-of-the-good-guys. Joining is significantly more hassle than getting an active duty dependent ID card but even so, it's a solution to a problem. On top of that, the new "dependent" might actually get more involved with time. My wife has actually started to come to meetings with me sometimes and has taken an interest in some of the environmental protection issues we face. She's a park ranger and naturalist and I think it teases her imagination a little to think about the Coast Guard defending the wildlife, etc. She's also a wiz at administration and has pitched in to take notes for meeting minutes. All in all a potential win-win.

AuxnoobBasic MemberPosts:286

05 Apr 2013 08:49 AM

Vic, How can I determine if my state gives income tax deductions for the Aux? Do you mean something different than deducting travel and uniform expences?

CGNY2013New MemberPosts:81

05 Apr 2013 09:33 AM

Auxiliarists can use valid expenses towards a tax deduction. See link below.

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
C. S. Lewis

VicNaz1Basic MemberPosts:174

08 Apr 2013 02:32 PM

State Tax Deductions vary from state to state. You will have to look up the issues on your own. You'll be looking into incentives for volunteer-ism. The tax brake we get here in MD is a broad $3500 deduction for Aux. who put in enough hours and participate in significant ways (there's a specific formula). The same tax brake is given to volunteer fire fighters and others who commit to public service (in uniform mostly). There are indeed other stated that give this break but I don't know which ones and I really have no idea how much they give.

Of course you can also deduct your expenses. Remember, when acting on Coast Guard (Auxiliary or Otherwise) you are considered an unpaid employee of the Coast Guard for various purposes of law. One of those purposes is claiming of expenses. Look this up on your own people and talk to your tax man or woman. I am not a legal expert, I just like to bone up on regulations and stuff to make sure I get it right. That means you should do your own homework and not just say, "the guy on the forum said I could do..."

I must say that having an extra $3500 deduction on my MD state taxes is nice and after 3 years of membership my wife's additional $3500 deduction will help (provided she stays in and contributes enough to qualify for the deduction). It's not the reason I joined but it's a nice benefit.

Folks, if you happen to look this stuff up please chime in and list what you know about your own particular state's tax benefits for Aux. I'll start a new topic on that subject right now.

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